CHOICEPOINT'S NO-PRIVACY DEAL WITH THE FBI

THE DISCLOSURE
Formerly secret documents obtained by EPIC from the FBI reveal
Choicepoint's proposed "Partnership for the New Millennium."
The file includes a survey Choicepoint prepared on an extraordinary
range of data sources, including e-mail registration, employment
and drug screening reports, driving
records, professional licensing, SSNs,
phone records, and calling card data. One memo
discussed the availability of information on Europeans, Latin Americans,
Asians, and Africans.

THE ISSUE
Choicepoint's sale of personal information to the FBI.

THE BACKGROUND
The Privacy Act of 1974 prevented federal agencies, including the
FBI,
from creating secret profiles on American citizens. According to
the
law, agencies need a valid purpose to collect information. Government
agencies must also ensure fairness, accuracy, and openness. But
commercial data brokers, such as Choicepoint, are now selling personal
data to the government that sidesteps these requirements.

THE SIGNIFICANCE
Law enforcement agencies are exploiting a loophole in federal privacy
law. The documents obtained by EPIC make clear the need to fix the
Privacy Act. When the private sector collects personal information
for
the government, Privacy Act safeguards should apply.

FOIA Publications

FOIA Documents

About
the Freedom of Information Act
The Freedom of Information Act establishes a legal right for individuals to
obtain records in the possession of government agencies. The FOIA is critical
for the functioning of democratic government because it helps ensure that the
public is fully informed about matters of public concern. The FOIA has helped
uncover fraud, waste, and abuse in the federal government. It has become particularly
important in the last few years as the government has tried to keep more of
its activities secret.